National Radio Midday Bulletin

Parekura Horomia - Nz Soldier Killed - New Ge Cow Test - Ge Objector - Picket Line Death - Cervical Cancer Deaths - Homicide Inquiry - Free Tertiary Education - Waipareira Trust - Bush Running Mate - Camp David - Northland Prison - Sydney Olympics

PAREKURA HOROMIA - First term MP Parekura Horomia was confirmed as the new Maori Affairs Minister at a caucus meeting in Parliament this morning.

- NZ SOLDIER KILLED: The body of a New Zealand soldier killed in East Timor this afternoon will be removed after a site examination this afternoon.

- NEW GE COW TEST: The Environmental Risk Management Authority have approved the trials of genetically engineered cows with a human gene.

- GE OBJECTOR: An objector to a proposed transfer of a human gene into cows says today's approval for a field trial is like telling tangata whenua that their values mean nothing in their own land.

- PICKET LINE DEATH: A man accused of causing the death of a Lyttelton woman, Christine Clark on a picket line will go to trial in the High Court on a charge of manslaughter.

- CERVICAL CANCER DEATHS: An expert witness says five or six women around the country will die unnecessarily from cervical cancer, because of an eight-month delay in evaluating the national screening programme.

- HOMICIDE INQUIRY: Police homicide inquiry into the death of a 23-month old Caterton girl will today focus on talking to family members and those who had contact with her in the last few days.

- FREE TERTIARY EDUCATION: Southland may soon become a mecca for cash-strapped students under a new $11-million plan for free tertiary education in the province.

- WAIPAREIRA TRUST: Te Whanau O Waipareira Trust has announced plans to employ up to 300 people in a new business venture aiming to provide call-centre services here and overseas.

- BUSH RUNNING MATE: In the US, Texas Governor, George W. Bush has chosen his former Defence Secretary, Dick Cheney as his vice presidential running mate for the Presidential elections in early November.

- CAMP DAVID: Negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians are now taking place around the clock, with reports that the next 48-hours will be crucial for the peace talks.

- NORTHLAND PRISON: The Department of Corrections says it has purchased a farm in Northland for its planned regional prison.

- SYDNEY OLYMPICS: The company which contracts for the rights to sell tickets to the Sydney Olympics in New Zealand says if they can’t all be sold here they will be sold offshore.

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